Ken MacKenzie – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Kenneth Purvis MacKenzie made his mark in baseball history during a six-year Major League Baseball career from 1960 to 1965. Born in Gore Bay, Ontario, this Yale-educated lefty became known for his sharp control and pulled off a pretty remarkable feat with one of baseball’s most infamous teams.

MacKenzie played for five different clubs: the Milwaukee Braves, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, and Houston Astros.

His standout moment came in 1962, when he was the only pitcher on the New York Mets to finish with a winning record (5-4) on a team that lost 120 games, the most in modern baseball history. That season alone pretty much secured his spot in baseball lore. He managed to shine during one of the toughest seasons any team has ever had.

His blend of a Yale education and pro baseball success made him a bit of a unicorn back then, since college grads were rare in the majors.

After he retired from playing in 1965, MacKenzie headed back to Yale to coach both freshman baseball and hockey. His journey from a tiny Canadian town to the big leagues and then back to academia is honestly fascinating. It’s a story that goes beyond stats, showing the grit it takes to make it at baseball’s highest level.

Early Life and Education

Ken MacKenzie’s path from a small Canadian island to Major League Baseball started in Gore Bay, Ontario. He grew up in a hardware store owner’s family.

He eventually made his way to Yale University, where he played both hockey and baseball before going pro.

Family Background and Birthplace

Kenneth Purvis MacKenzie was born on March 10, 1934, in Gore Bay, Ontario, Canada. Gore Bay is a small town on Manitoulin Island at the north end of Lake Huron.

His father, John McKenzie, ran the local hardware store. His mother, Evelyn Purvis, took care of the home and raised six kids: Sandy, Jack, Ken, Doris, Wilda, and Sally.

MacKenzie grew up surrounded by Gore Bay’s rural landscape. The town didn’t offer much in the way of organized sports for kids.

A town team was the only real option for baseball or hockey. The local fairgrounds doubled as a baseball field, with a bluff on one side for seating and cars parked all around for a close-up view.

MacKenzie remembered building the first pitcher’s mound himself, hunting for materials to put it together. His high school, C.C. McLean, was tiny.

When he finished grade 13, only five students were left in his class. That small class size didn’t help much with exposure for young athletes.

Yale University Athletics

Instead of staying in Canada, MacKenzie headed south to Connecticut for Yale University. His uncle, who lived in Hartford and loved Yale hockey, persuaded him to apply as a possible hockey recruit.

The Canadian relief pitcher arrived in New Haven without any big athletic reputation. Still, he managed to find success in both hockey and baseball at Yale.

During his college years, MacKenzie earned second-team All-Ivy honors in hockey as a senior in 1956. He also captained the baseball team that same year.

Yale University gave MacKenzie his first real taste of organized sports, with good facilities, training, and actual coaching. Ethan Allen, a former major leaguer, coached the baseball team and became MacKenzie’s mentor.

Allen usually let MacKenzie do his thing. When an assistant tried to give pointers, Allen just said, “Leave him alone. He wins.”

MacKenzie’s stats at Yale backed up Allen’s trust. He won 19 games and lost six over three seasons.

He also went 6-0 against Harvard, which became a school record. Each year, Yale took the Big Three Championship series against Princeton and Harvard.

By the time he graduated, MacKenzie was a legit major league prospect.

Transition From College to Professional Baseball

MacKenzie didn’t jump straight into pro ball after Yale. A Milwaukee Braves rep, Jeff Jones, suggested he play summer baseball first.

He got the chance to pitch in the Halifax and District League in Truro, Nova Scotia. That summer league experience opened the door to pro baseball.

He eventually signed with the Braves organization after pitching in rural Nova Scotia. That marked the official start of his pro career.

His success in college, especially his pitching record and leadership as captain, set him up for the next level. The guidance from Ethan Allen turned out to be huge during this time.

MacKenzie’s Yale degree made him stand out among big leaguers. Baseball cards often mentioned his college background, since he was one of the rare Yale grads to make it to the majors.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Ken MacKenzie worked as a left-handed relief pitcher for six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1965. The Milwaukee Braves signed him in 1956, and he developed into a relief specialist before making his MLB debut in 1960.

MLB Debut and Initial Years

MacKenzie debuted in the majors on May 2, 1960, with the Milwaukee Braves at age 26. He only played in 14 games for Milwaukee over his first two seasons in 1960 and 1961.

The Milwaukee Braves gave MacKenzie his first shot at the big leagues after he’d worked his way up through their farm system. He’d signed with them in 1956 and spent a few years in the minors.

On October 11, 1961, just one day after the expansion draft, the Braves sold his contract to the brand-new New York Mets. That move ended up defining his major league story.

Relief Pitching and Specialization

MacKenzie became a relief specialist in 1959, his third year as a pro. He pitched left-handed, batted right-handed, stood 6 feet tall, and weighed 185 pounds.

Teams valued his relief work, and he pitched in all but one of his 129 career games as a reliever. Manager Casey Stengel liked to mention MacKenzie’s Yale background, sometimes joking about his salary compared to other Ivy League grads.

This blend of athletic skill and academic chops set him apart from a lot of players in that era.

Career Teams and Timeline

MacKenzie played for five different teams during his six-year MLB career:

• Milwaukee Braves (1960-1961)
• New York Mets (1962-1963)
• St. Louis Cardinals (1963)
• San Francisco Giants (1964)
• Houston Astros (1965)

He had his best run with the Mets, going 5-4 in 1962. Out of 17 pitchers on the staff, he was the only one who finished with more wins than losses on a team that lost 120 games.

In 1963, he posted a 3-1 record for the Mets before they traded him to the Cardinals on August 5. All eight of his major league wins came while he wore a Mets uniform.

Standout Seasons and Achievements

Ken MacKenzie’s most memorable year was 1962 with the expansion New York Mets, when he finished 5-4 and was the only pitcher on the team with a winning record. Over six seasons, he delivered solid relief outings and pulled off some unique accomplishments.

1962 New York Mets and Winning Record

MacKenzie joined the Mets in 1962 via the expansion draft. Casey Stengel managed the team, and, honestly, the Mets had a rough time, losing 120 games that first season.

Despite all that losing, MacKenzie was a bright spot. He put together a 5-4 record with a 4.95 ERA over 42 appearances.

That made him the only pitcher on the roster to finish above .500. He pitched 80 innings that year, mostly in relief, and racked up 51 strikeouts and one save.

His performance stood out against the team’s overall struggles. That winning record became a rare positive headline for the Mets in their debut season.

Notable Performances and Statistics

Looking at his career numbers, MacKenzie delivered steady relief pitching for several teams. He finished with an 8-10 record and a 4.80 ERA in 129 games.

In 1965 with Houston, he had his best statistical season, posting a 3.89 ERA. He struck out 26 batters in 37 innings, showing better command.

Over his career, MacKenzie struck out 142 batters in 208.1 innings. His 2.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio showed he could control his pitches fairly well.

He played for five different teams in six years. His ability to fill bullpen roles made him valuable to clubs looking for relief depth.

Recognitions and Unique Accomplishments

MacKenzie’s Yale background made him different from most players of his time. He lettered in both hockey and baseball before turning pro.

As an original Met, he became part of franchise history. Being on the team’s first roster in 1962 gave him a little piece of baseball lore.

After he retired in 1965, MacKenzie went back to Yale and coached baseball starting in 1969. He stayed connected to the sport even after his playing days ended.

His Canadian roots also made him stand out, since not many Canadians played in the majors back in the 1960s. He was born in Gore Bay, Ontario, and represented a small group of Canadian big leaguers.

Team Transitions and Final MLB Season

MacKenzie’s later years in the majors included a lot of moving around and less playing time. He went from the St. Louis Cardinals to the San Francisco Giants and finally to the Houston Astros.

His last season, 1965 with Houston, marked the end of his six-year MLB run.

St. Louis Cardinals Period

The Cardinals traded for MacKenzie in August 1963, sending Ed Bauta to the Mets in return.

Both teams were in New York at the time, so MacKenzie just took the subway to the Roosevelt Hotel, where the Cardinals stayed. He swapped suitcases and warm-up jackets with Bauta.

MacKenzie pitched in 8 games for St. Louis that season. The Cardinals were chasing the pennant and had stars like Stan Musial, who retired that year.

The Cardinals invited him to a picnic at owner August Busch’s farm, which made him hope he might reach the World Series with such a strong team.

His time in St. Louis was short but memorable. That roster had Bill White, Ken Boyer, Bob Gibson, and a bunch of other top players.

San Francisco Giants Tenure

In October 1963, the Giants traded for MacKenzie, sending Jimmie Coker to the Cardinals.

He joined a team stacked with future Hall of Famers—Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, and Gaylord Perry were all there.

Most of 1964, MacKenzie spent with the Tacoma minor league team in the Pacific Coast League. He only got into 10 major league games for San Francisco, all in late May and early June 1964.

All the moving around was tough for MacKenzie’s family. His wife Gretchen and their sons Kenny and Jeffrey had to relocate from New York to St. Louis to San Francisco.

They had to find new housing, get the kids into new schools, and settle into unfamiliar cities—all while knowing another trade could happen at any time.

Houston Astros and Retirement

The Houston Astros bought MacKenzie’s contract in October 1964. That move brought him to another expansion team, kind of like the Mets.

Houston started shifting from the Colt .45s to the Astros in 1965. The team left the outdoor Colt Stadium for the new air-conditioned Astrodome.

MacKenzie pitched in 21 games for Houston during the 1965 season. He split his time between the majors and the Oklahoma City minor league team.

The Astros roster included young guys like Joe Morgan, Jim Wynn, and Rusty Staub. MacKenzie joined an aging pitching staff, which also had Larry Dierker, who was just a teenager then.

The team sent him down to Triple-A in early August 1965. That demotion pushed him to retire from professional baseball after the season.

MacKenzie made his final MLB appearance on August 4, 1965, against St. Louis. He pitched just 0.1 innings and gave up 2 hits, but he didn’t record a strikeout or a walk.

Coaching Career and Post-Playing Life

After he retired from pro baseball in 1965, MacKenzie went back to his alma mater, Yale University. He spent the next two decades shaping young athletes as a baseball and hockey coach.

He eventually moved into Yale’s alumni office and stayed there until retiring in 1984.

Baseball Coach at Yale

MacKenzie started coaching at Yale in 1965 as the freshman baseball and hockey coach. He took over the varsity baseball program in 1969, replacing longtime coach Ethan Allen.

His first varsity team featured players like Steve Greenberg, son of Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg, and Brian Dowling, who also quarterbacked Yale’s football team. Dowling later inspired the B.D. character in the Doonesbury comic strip.

MacKenzie coached Yale’s varsity baseball team for 10 seasons, from 1969 to 1978. He brought in his pro experience, focusing on the fundamentals he picked up during his MLB career.

He wanted to develop well-rounded student-athletes who could do well both on the field and in the classroom.

Recruitment and Player Development

As Yale’s baseball coach, MacKenzie worked hard to attract student-athletes who could meet the university’s academic standards. His background as a pro gave him credibility with recruits and their families.

He emphasized pinpoint control and smart baseball, skills he valued from his own playing days. He knew mental preparation and strategy mattered a lot in baseball.

One of his big recruiting wins was Brian Dowling, who became a star in multiple sports at Yale. MacKenzie helped develop players who went on to succeed both in and out of baseball.

He coached both baseball and hockey, so he got to work with athletes year-round. That helped him develop leadership skills across different sports.

Role at Yale Alumni Office

After he finished his coaching tenure in 1978, MacKenzie moved to Yale’s alumni office. This job let him stay connected to the university in a new way.

He worked in the alumni office for six years, from 1978 to 1984. He focused on keeping relationships with Yale grads and supporting the school’s fundraising efforts.

MacKenzie’s background as both a Yale alum and a former pro athlete made him a strong ambassador for the university. He could relate to alumni from all sorts of backgrounds.

His work in the alumni office capped off nearly three decades at Yale, from his playing days through retirement.

Legacy, Honors, and Personal Life

Ken MacKenzie’s legacy stands out because he was the only pitcher with a winning record on the 1962 expansion Mets team. His Canadian roots made him a notable figure in baseball history. He passed away at 89 in December 2023, closing a chapter on early Mets baseball.

Old Timers’ Day and Mets Involvement

MacKenzie held a special place in New York Mets history as an original member of the 1962 expansion team. His 5-4 record that year made him the only pitcher with a winning record on a team that lost 120 games.

The Mets organization recognized MacKenzie’s place in franchise history. He stayed connected to the team through alumni events and Old Timers’ Day celebrations.

His achievement with the 1962 Mets really defined his baseball legacy. The team’s rough 40-120 record made MacKenzie’s success even more impressive.

Influence as a Canadian Baseball Player

Kenneth Purvis MacKenzie was born in Gore Bay, Ontario, on Manitoulin Island. That made him a notable Canadian relief pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1960s.

MacKenzie represented Canadian talent at a time when few players from Canada made it to the majors. His success helped open doors for future Canadian players.

His birthplace, Gore Bay—a small town in Ontario—showed that players from even the smallest Canadian communities could make it all the way to professional baseball.

Personal Milestones and Death

MacKenzie went to Yale University, where he played both hockey and baseball. He actually earned a letter in each sport.

After his playing days ended in 1965, he made his way back to Yale. This time, he took on the role of baseball team’s coach from 1969 to 1978.

He stuck with the sport, helping young players grow at the college level for almost ten years. You could really see his dedication to baseball through his coaching.

MacKenzie passed away on December 14, 2023, in Guilford, Connecticut. He was 89.

With his passing, we lost one of the last original members from the 1962 New York Mets roster.